Prospect Profile: Dellin Betances

Background
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Betances attended Grand Street High School. He popped up on the prospect map after a sophomore year growth spurt that saw him add six inches and twenty pounds to his frame. Betances dominated as a junior, going 6-0 with 100 strikeouts and just eleven hits allowed in 41.2 IP. He allowed one earned run all season and led Grand Street to the PSAL semifinals, where he struck out sixteen in a three hit shutout of New Utrecht. Invited to the prestigous Aflac All-American Game, Betances retired the heart of the West squad’s lineup on nine pitches in his only inning of work.

Baseball America rated Betances the seventh best high school prospect prior to his senior year, however he struggled due to mechanical issues that led to inconsistent velocity. Despite that, he still managed to set a school record with 20 strikeouts in one game. In the revised rankings before the draft, he still checked in as the 68th best prospect in the class, and top prospect in the state. Betances had a strong commitment to follow fellow New Yorker Pedro Alvarez to Vanderbilt, and unconfirmed rumors swirled that he wanted a seven figure bonus and would only sign with the Yankees.

Betances lasted until the eighth round of the ’06 draft, when his hometown team popped him with the 254th overall pick. Despite the Vandy commitment and rumored bonus demands, he signed quickly for a cool million bucks, at a time a record for the eighth round. Betances was assigned to the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Yanks after signing, and used his bonus money to buy his parents a house in Bogota after the summer.

Pro Career
Working the front end of a tandem start system with Zach McAllister, Betances had a dominant debut, allowing just 14 hits and 7 walks against 27 K in 23 IP. He fell short of qualifying for the league ERA title, but his 1.17 mark would have placed him second in the circuit. Betances started 2007 in Extended Spring Training to work on his mechanics, then reported to Short Season Staten Island in June. He made six decent starts for the Baby Bombers (25 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 10.57 Kper9) before going down with a strained elbow that ended his season.

Although there was speculation that he would need Tommy John surgery, Betances reported to Low-A Charleston at the start of 2008 without incident, and started Opening Day for the River Dogs. He was solid in his first eleven starts (55 IP, 4.42 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 10.47 Kper9) but struggled with his control, walking 6.54 batters per 9 IP. In early June he went down with a sore shoulder, and missed a month before returning in early July. Betances was much stronger in the second half (60.1 IP, 3.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10.59 Kper9), but most importantly he got over his control problems and reduced his walk rate by nearly four walks per game, down to 2.83 BBper9. Despite missing a month due to injury, Betances finished sixth in the South Atlantic League with 135 strikeouts, pacing the circuit with a 10.54 strikeouts per nine innings.

Scouting ReportBetances works primarily with two pitches: a four seam fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and touches 98, and a hard downer curveball. He gets a wicked downward plane on his heater because of his size, and when he’s right hitters find it impossible to get any lift on his hard stuff. Betances’ changeup is in it’s infancy stages, and the Yanks have had him toy with a two seamer. His control varies day-to-day, but is generally okay.

Literally a monster on the mound, Betances checks in at 6’8″, 245 pounds. He struggles with his delivery because of his size and long limbs, often failing to maintain balance through his windup. Finding comfortable and consistent mechanics is always a difficult and cumbersome chore for tall pitchers, and it’ll probably be a few years before he figures things out.

Typical of high school pitchers, Betances still has to work on his fielding and ability to hold runners. He has a quiet confidence about him, and his work ethic is very good. The biggest issue with Betances is his durability, as he’s missed time with elbow and shoulder troubles the past few seasons, likely the result of mechanical issues. He must still prove he can hold up over a full season.

You can see his scouting video here, and some footage of his 2007 season debut here.

2009 Outlook
After a dominant second half with Charleston, Betances is ready to move up to High-A Tampa. Unless he devastates the Florida State League over the first ten or twelve weeks of the season, he’ll likely remain in Tampa for all of ’09.

My Take
If you’re cool enough to have been reading my stuff since the days of IGWT, then you know I’ve been on Betances since before he was even drafted. He’s very much a project, likely to need a full season at each level, but he’s a project with enormous upside and true ace potential. The key for his development is obviously his delivery. Once he gets that straightened out, his command will improve and everything else will come together. Betances doesn’t have to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2010 season, so there’s no need to rush him through the system. If his control improvement in the second half last year was real, he’ll grow into one of the better pitching prospects in the game.

Not really. If the sarcasm accurately mimics the concept/event/person being lampooned, AND the reader is a clever enough thinker to pick up on the natural departure from normal, rational thought, it’s obvious.

In this case, either:
A) Steve, Tom and I used sarcasm that wasn’t obvious enough, or
B) Ed wasn’t quick enough on the draw

Since I have no idea who you are, sarcasm can not be inferred. I’ll go with choice A.

[ shakes head ]

I don’t know Jonathan Swift personally, but I knew instantly he didn’t really want to eat babies. Knowing the speaker is not necessary to knowing sarcasm when you see it. Understanding the issue at question AND being familiar with the viewpoints various people have taken on the issue is all that is needed.

Let’s give you the benefit of the doubt that assume that you didn’t catch this comment from the immediately preceding post by Phil McCracken where he foolishly denigrated the Yankees braintrust by saying that the paying overslot bonus phenomenon was ended and that the “Yankees didn’t take advantage of the draft when they had the chance.”

Had you read that statement, would you instantly have known that Steve was being snarky and sarcastic? I hope that you would.

Currambayankees

Can I answer this one? Can I? Can I?

vic g

Betances is gunna be the ace of the NY yankees in 2-3 years … You’ll see

Mike, you’ve said this before, but what do you think is Tampa’s rotation to start the season?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Obviously you can’t take my word for it, but I’m thinking Brackman, Betances, Bleich, McAllister, Heredia, not necessarily in that order. If they start McAllister in AA, then DeLaRosa takes his place.

pat

I would think with WDR’s inclusion on the 40 man roster and powerful fastball/ slider combo he would be ticketed for tampa. The presence of the slider should keep people off his heater and allow him to work on developing a better changeup or curveball.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Oh, I still think he’ll be with Tampa, but if McAllister is there he’ll work out of the pen.

pat

Zmac was pretty dominant in tampa. 88 ip 62k 13bb .98 whip 1.83 era. I hope they start him in trenton so wdr can be in the rotation.

I only jumped on his band wagon in 2007 after seeing him pitch. He CAN be the next Joba type pitcher for us. He has a lot of work to do but, he and Brackman by 2010/2011 along with Phil and Joba and possible Zack…one hell of a rotation!
One (two) big problem is going to be CC and AJ what do we do with them? What do we do with the guys coming up; Phil, Betances, Brackman and Zack?
Obviously all of them are not going to be as good as they are projected (maybe). If even two of them become as good as advertised, one dominate rotation we could have.
What a problem to have!

Yup! You got it right!
Other than stats and wise cracks, why not add to the conversations…be a lot more helpful to some of the people that may not have heard about these guys.
I know you are smarter then that.
If I am such a bad judge of talent why is Joba, Cano, Brett and soon Cervelli (maybe) all on the 25 man roster. I pimped for all of them. Phil will make it, also IPK…maybe later this year or trade bait.

pat

Mike these prospect profiles really suck. They definitely do not get me super giddy and excited for next season. When I read them they do not make me extremely optimistic about the future of our beloved organization. I am definitely not looking forward to every single DOF next season with baited breath (and roofies!). Maybe now you can call that lady at my soccer games you’re always looking at!

I mean, the dude’s talking about tranquilizing himself before masturbating, and actually described it as “It’s a game of skill, deception, honor and deceit.”

It was awesome. I applaud you, pat.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

I find myself vacillating between giggling/laughter and being terrified when I read that convo (below). It’s, like, hysterical, but then the mental image is vomit-inducing. I’d say I’m just going to go back to another thread and get this out of my head, but the other choices are a discussion of whether Derek Jeter is gay/going to play for the Dodgers/a pimp or a discussion of a potential Morgan/Miller/Phillips booth. Rough day around here.

the mental image is vomit-inducing. I’d say I’m just going to go back to another thread and get this out of my head, but the other choices are a discussion of whether Derek Jeter is gay/going to play for the Dodgers/a pimp or a discussion of a potential Morgan/Miller/Phillips booth.

“Alright, so Hideki Matsui doesn’t have a wife. But this was one of the best pranks in recent memory, so it’s worthy of the list.

Matsui held a press conference to announce his engagement to a mystery bride. He said he didn’t have a photograph, so he brought this drawing resembling a police sketch. Apparently it was to win a bet he made with Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu regarding who would get married first.

I am definitely not looking forward to every single DOF next season with baited breath (and roofies!).

Wait, you are you using the roofie on, yourself? Are you diminishing your own capacity so you can take advantage of yourself and then leave yourself on the side of the road somewhere?

pat

Its a game of skill, deception, honor and deceit. Its called drink a bottle of nyquill slip yourself a mickey then try and make it through a whole DOF and flog the dolphin before passing out. Best of all everybody who plays wins!

“Betances works primarily with two pitches: a four seam fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and touches 98, and a hard downer curveball… Betances’ changeup is in it’s infancy stages, and the Yanks have had him toy with a two seamer.

After a dominant second half with Charleston, Betances is ready to move up to High-A Tampa. Unless he devastates the Florida State League over the first ten or twelve weeks of the season, he’ll likely remain in Tampa for all of ‘09… He’s very much a project, likely to need a full season at each level, but he’s a project with enormous upside and true ace potential… Betances doesn’t have to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2010 season, so there’s no need to rush him through the system.”

So, tell me what conclusions that I’m drawing from this are incorrect:

1) As he’s a starter who only has two pitches, the focus for him over the next two years will be working on mastering a repeatable, stress-free delivery and developing that third and fourth pitch

2) That with 2009-Tampa, 2010-Trenton, and 2011-Scranton, we’re looking at a 2012 ETA if all goes well

3) Dellin Betances once bowled a perfect 300. Without a ball. He wasn’t even in a bowling alley.

Doc

My eyes roll everytime I see a post from this poster. Fine line between funny and really really tortotously unfunny

since my head already exploded like 5 times today……refer to DOF comments above for “insert dirty reference here”

Mike Pop

Seems like every day on the Network there is always a 2007 W.S. game lol.

Whenever I turn it on, BAM the Sox score.

jsbrendog

STOP TURNING IT ON!!! YOURE HELPING THEM WIN!!!

http://theenlighteneddespot.com NC Saint

Mike, another great profile, but I have one big complaint. The word ‘literally’ is in serious trouble these days. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Betances does not breath fire on the mound. He does not swallow Tokyo civilians whole. He is tall, and throws a baseball very hard. This may make him a monster on the mound, but not literally.

monster
–noun
1. a legendary animal combining features of animal and human form or having the forms of various animals in combination, as a centaur, griffin, or sphinx.
2. any creature so ugly or monstrous as to frighten people.
3. any animal or human grotesquely deviating from the normal shape, behavior, or character.4. a person who excites horror by wickedness, cruelty, etc.
5. any animal or thing huge in size.
6. Biology.
a. an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure, as from marked malformation or the absence of certain parts or organs.
b. a grossly anomalous fetus or infant, esp. one that is not viable.7. anything unnatural or monstrous.
–adjective8. huge; enormous; monstrous: a monster tree.

Officer Mac: Hey Farva, what’s that restaraunt you like, with all the crazy shit on the walls?

Farva: Shenanigans? You guys mean Shenanigans right!?!

Tom Zig

ICWUDT?

¿Qué?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.

I see what you did there.

Not to be confused with UCWIDT.

jsbrendog

this was amusing

greg

Anyone an espn insider? Keith Law put out his rankings and I can only see AJack, wondering where Montero checked in and if anyone else did in the top 100. Also can only see his top 10 organizational rankings. I’m guessing the yanks are around 15-16, can anyone tell me?

Joey

Dunno if I can copy and paste it, if not Joe/Ben/Mike can delete, but Yanks come in at 15:

15. New York Yankees: For the first time in several years, the Yankees’ system is light on impact talent, with major question marks on each of the top four prospects. The 2008 draft class doesn’t offer much hope — the Yankees’ first pick reversed course on them midsummer and decided to go to college; their third pick had a medical issue and didn’t agree to terms; and the resulting crop of players doesn’t offer much upside.

billbybob

Can you also tell us which Yankees made the top 100 prospect list? There is no way I am paying money for some ESPN insider crap.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I’ll have it in the Open Thread at 7.

Brian Cashman is Watching

In terms of rankings, not having a first round pick or a second round pick hurts. The ranking could be considerably higher with Cole or Bittle in the system. That’s the “impact talent” that Law looks for in his rankings. It could be the right decision depending on who is available this year. Considering Cole’s immaturity and violent delivery, maybe someone better is available this year. Or maybe no one falls to New York and Cole was a better option.

In terms of compensation, if the Yankees do not sign their first round or second round picks this year (the compensation picks from last year’s draft), they do not get them next year. It’s a one shot deal.

A.D.

Basically Dellin + Brackman have the opportunity to be the best 1 – 2 punch in baseball

I remember the day he was drafted, it was so frustrating, it was the first draft I followed and you were updating us, and IGWT just crashed. I do remember you mentioning that he you be a great pick well before the draft.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Yeah, that was an aggravating day because blogger crapped out.

It was also a great day too, because that’s when I kind of gained a little blogging notoriety for writing up four pitchers I felt the Yanks should take (three months before the draft), and they took three of them (Kennedy, Joba, Betances).

Jacob

Just out of curiosity, who was the fourth?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Brandon Morrow, the kid who nearly no-hit the Yanks in Seattle last season. Here’s that post I was talking about:

Damn Mike…you nailed 3 out of your 4 2006 draft picks on your old blog. You must have been ecstatic at the time. And you wanted Betances over Chamberlain. It’s entirely possible that it is still too early to tell.

daneptizl

Wicked.

Drew

sounds good. hope to see him in AAA in a few years.

AL

Last year he won the 1st Deline Betances award and gave the one million signing bonus to charity.